Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Blooper Perspective

A friend is a big fan of Get Smart, and recentlysent me some videos from the show. After I watched them, I saw the one above.

It got me thinking about how much people seemto enjoy watching bloopers. It also got mewondering the origin of the word "blooper."In some ways, the word sounds like when you stumble over your words, and even sounds funny, but it has nothing to do with it.

Bloopers simply are mistakes. Bloopers frommovies and television make us laugh. It is always great to know that we aren't alonein our experience, it is likely why we enjoy them so. We see these final, slick versions ofthings, and think that perfection is what is natural, and necessary.

It's too bad our lives don't have blooper reels,maybe we could remove ourselves from our situations and laugh more about what is happening. Interestingly, with video being so prevalent, there are likely lots of opportunities, but there are also ample opportunities for cover up, too.

I certainly wish I could do things perfectly.However, working as I do, I am unable to affordthe luxury. I would have to say that is a goodthing, because it makes me move forward, evenwhen uncomfortable.

The next time you hold back, waiting for theperfect moment or thing, consider watching ablooper real, and remind yourself that alongthe way to perfect is "real." How many timesdoes something have to be "perfect" any way?(Not to mention, how exactly is perfectiondefined and perceived - but that is a wholeother conversation).

Perhaps consider letting someone see you less than perfect. Perhaps consider being more patient with someone who is expressing their less than perfect human self. Perhaps even consider laughing at yourself and what is happening.

I know...that last one especially may be asking a wee bit too much, as life is meant to be taken so very seriously.*